Question:
About eight months ago, I adopted an older (8-year-old) cat who seemed to adjust readily to his new home. Then, about three months ago, he began having bowel movements outside of his litter box. After trying to rule out changes in the household and cleanliness of the litter box, I took him to the vet, who was unable to identify why this was happening but commented that it was unusual for the cat to be choosing "soft" surfaces (such as bedding, throw rugs and upholstered furniture) for this behavior. He suggested that I put out a second litter box with a different type of litter. I did and, for a few weeks, the behavior stopped. Then, three weeks later (only one day after making sure the boxes had been emptied, washed and filled), the cat again had a bowel movement elsewhere in the house. Though not every week, the problem persists. What's a person to do?.
W., Baltimore, Md Jan 22, 2006
Answer:
Have the veterinarian check your cat's anal glands; also consider appropriate treatment if your cat is either constipated or has diarrhea -- common reasons why cats become house-soilers.If all physical reasons are ruled out, then consider environmental ones, such as the location of the litter box (in a quiet, low-traffic area) and type of litter you are using. Don't allow the cat on trigger surfaces that are soft, crunchy (like a bean bag) or resemble the texture of grass or dirt.Also consider psychological causes, such as possible stress in the home. The use of an anxiety-reducing medication is called for if the stress cannot be eliminated.Many cats like yours show improvement when their diets are changed. In other cases, the problem of becoming un-housebroken, which is not a justifiable reason for getting rid of the cat, is the tip of the iceberg, and underlying health problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, surface later. Hence, cats should never be punished/disciplined for house-soiling.
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